St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Kaohly Her, alleging that she sexually harassed him and subsequently retaliated against him for filing an internal complaint. The 73-page complaint details multiple instances of alleged inappropriate comments and physical contact during Henry’s tenure as the city’s top law enforcement officer, a position he has held since 2022.
The lawsuit outlines specific incidents, including allegations that Her referred to herself as a "MILF" and made sexually suggestive comments regarding Henry’s body. It also claims that Her engaged in unwanted physical contact, such as placing her hand on Henry’s upper thigh during a budget meeting, and that she threatened to spread rumors about him during a meeting at a cigar lounge.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative commentary on the incident has highlighted the explicit nature of the allegations, with outlets like Fox News focusing on the specific quotes included in the filing, such as the "MILF" reference and the alleged threat to say Henry "grabbed her a--." Critics aligned with the right often view such lawsuits as evidence of administrative dysfunction or personal misconduct by Democratic officeholders. The right’s perspective in this case centers on the credibility of the accuser and the potential for political retaliation against law enforcement leadership, noting that Her transferred her security detail to the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office shortly before the lawsuit gained public attention.
What the Left Is Saying
In this local political dispute, progressive voices often emphasize the need for institutional accountability and support for workplace harassment claims. While specific national Democratic leaders have not yet issued a statement on this municipal case, the framework of the lawsuit aligns with broader advocacy for protecting employees who report misconduct. The complaint asserts that after Henry filed his internal grievance, Her and her administration "embarked on a campaign to retaliate against and discredit Chief Henry." This perspective focuses on the alleged power dynamic between an elected official and a department head, arguing that the mayor’s actions undermined the chief’s authority and professional standing.
What the Numbers Show
The complaint spans 73 pages and details a timeline of alleged incidents starting from Henry’s appointment in 2022. Key data points from the filing include: a December meeting at a cigar lounge where threats were allegedly made; a February incident involving a golf simulator in Woodbury, Minnesota, where Her allegedly arrived uninvited; and a specific awards ceremony where the "MFF" ribbon was misinterpreted as "MILF." Mayor Her’s office released a statement noting that an independent investigation "did not substantiate claims of sexual harassment or retaliation against any city employee." The city also released a "sanitized" two-page summary of this investigation, which Henry alleges was used to downplay her conduct.
The Bottom Line
This legal battle between St. Paul’s mayor and its police chief will likely have significant implications for the city’s public safety administration and political landscape. The core issue is whether the alleged interactions constitute sexual harassment and whether the subsequent administrative actions taken by the mayor’s office qualify as retaliation. The outcome of the lawsuit may determine the future of Chief Henry’s position and influence public trust in the city’s handling of internal complaints. With the independent investigation yielding no substantiated claims but the lawsuit proceeding, the dispute now moves to the courts, where the credibility of the alleged incidents and the intent behind the mayor’s administrative decisions will be scrutinized.